The Founder of the initiative of the Third Lebanese Republic blew up a resounding surprise, in an exclusive interview with Lebanon’s MTV saying: “There is no need for resistance after the agreement with Israel, and Hezbollah must integrate into the Lebanese army. He is optimistic about the demarcation of the maritime borders, and Israel is no longer an enemy country to Lebanon, and we signed an economic peace”.
Full interview with Omar Harfouch
Omar Harfouch: “I am very optimistic about the demarcation of the [maritime] border. First of all, we resolved a big problem with [Israel] that was an enemy of Lebanon and which we did not recognize. Today, we recognize it and it is no longer an enemy of Lebanon. This is a big challenge…
Interviewer: “Israel is still an enemy… Practically speaking, it is still an enemy.”
Harfouch: “Whose enemy? Maybe yours, but…”
Interviewer: “Not mine, but…”
Harfouch: “No. [Israel] is no longer an enemy.”
Interviewer: “It is for a large part of the Lebanese public and for the Lebanese state.”
Harfouch: “Let me present the facts.”
Interviewer: “Go ahead.”
Harfouch: “The facts are that Lebanon had not recognised Israel and had considered it to be an enemy, but when the border demarcation took place, and the line was drawn between Lebanon and Israel, Lebanon de facto recognised the State of Israel.
“The liberation of Jerusalem is part of Hizbullah’s ideology, but I, Omar Harfouch, as a Lebanese — why would I want to liberate Jerusalem? From whom should I liberate Jerusalem? My country is Lebanon. Any other country — Syria, Cyprus, Turkey, Palestine, Israel… Now that [Lebanon] recognized it, we can start using the word “Israel”… All those are foreign countries.
“Why am I supposed to outdo the Palestinians, and liberate their country or their capital city for them?
“The Palestinians accepted this state of affairs. They recognised Israel, signed a peace agreement with it, and divided the land. Whether ]Israel] abides by the agreement or not — that is the Palestinians’ problem, I want to solve Lebanon’s problems.”